5 Most disappointing Raiders players of the past 20 years
5 Most disappointing Raiders of the past 20 years
2. Antonio Brown
Remember how I mentioned Martavis Bryant had the second shortest stint as a Raiders wide receiver after being acquired from the Steelers? That’s because No. 2 on this list brought 10-times the issues Bryant brought without ever suiting up for the team.
The Raiders made a blockbuster trade for Antonio Brown as one of Mike Mayock’s first moves at general manager. They sent Pittsburgh a 3rd and a 5th round pick for a player who, by all accounts, was regarded as one of the best receivers in the NFL at the time.
Little did they know his antics that forced him out of Pittsburgh would only intensify during his time with the then Oakland Raiders. It started with a cryogenic chamber incident that resulted in frost bite on the bottoms of both his feet.
Next was the fact that his helmet was out of certification and wasn’t able to be used anymore. Brown threatened to retire if he wasn’t allowed to use that certain model, which flung a Raider Nation-wide search for a helmet that fit the parameters of the NFL’s guidelines.
Finally, after one was located, Brown went on to record a phone conversation he had with Jon Gruden and proceeded to put out a hype video insinuating he needed to be freed. The Raiders granted that wish and terminated his contract. Luckily, Mike Mayock was smart about the way he structured it, which included a void in the $30 million guaranteed money of the new 3 year/$50 million extension they just gave him if any of these types of antics occurred.
Antonio Brown never played a snap in the NFL as an Oakland Raider, and was one of the biggest let downs the franchise has ever seen. What was lost compensation and moneywise pales in comparison to others on this list, but the trickle effect of what happened was where it really hit the hardest.
Forget the fact it was all broadcasted nation wide, as the Raiders were on the HBO series Hard Knocks. Penciling him in on the roster meant looking elsewhere during the draft and not addressing wide receiver as a bigger need then it ultimately turned out to be.